Interdepartmental Synergy Strategies 1

[DirtSmuggler]

I've been tasked with creating a presentation to the other departments on the geotechnical department.

Reason: Other departments, particularly Structural and Civil, will do the work of the geotechnical department and exclude the geotech department from the project in efforts to keep all the billable work to their departments. When they screw up, we have to come in and save them, but put the time on overhead, not bill to the project. On most projects, geotech budgets gets cut by civil or structural department, so we have minimal hours, lab work, cost of drillers available to us, forcing geotech department to do a lot of overhead time on projects. However, they inflate their own budget because they spend "a lot of time in meetings and corresponding to emails". The project managers are just glorified budget trackers for each project. Project managers are determine by whose department has the highest budget for the project, so geotech never gets to be the project manager. Funny enough, even projects that are purely geotech, other department managers would take over as project manager. Also funny enough, projects that are pure geotech are also the most profitable and smoothest run projects.

Purpose: The presentation should convince other departments to let geotech do the geotech work and not take it upon themselves. It should convince them to allot a proper budget for the geotech team. Understanding that using cheap drillers create more problems and bad field data. To provide us with the resources and information we need (like proposed elevations, dimensions, and loads, so we can do our design, etc.). Find ways to create more synergy, collaboration, and cooperation between the department.

I would looking for some ideas on topics and points to make for the presentation. So far I've thought of was;
- The need of a kick-off meeting and how to conduct them
- Understanding the geotechnical process, field - lab - analysis - design
- Discussing how Geotech is as much of an art as it is science and requires expertise

Any help would be greatly appreciated it. I'm trying my best to revamp our geotech department and have it become more respected to our colleagues. It's ridiculous we even have to do this but it is what it is.

 

[IRstuff]

Sorry, seems to me that your presentation should be to upper management, to fix the corporate culture problem that exists. They are the ones that should see the disparity in funding and the screwups by other departments that are costing them their bonuses. If you can't change the management culture, nothing will change, since the incentives are unchanged.

 

[DirtSmuggler]

The presentation will be presented to the head of the other departments, and hopefully the president of the company as well. Basically a professional way to tell them to stop trying to do our job and ruining our department's reputation by screwing up the work they aren't qualified to do and stop cutting our budgets and inflating their own so they can spend a bunch of hours doing nothing while we try to complete our work in minimum time possible or less, and listen to our recommendations which is based on facts, finding, and data and not theirs which is based on a feeling. Other department heads will also insert themselves into our geotech-only projects and become the liaison between us and the client, preventing us from creating a direct relationship with the client. They'll budget more hours for themselves than anyone else on the project because of "correspondence".

I'm not the head of the geotech, I'm the number 2. The head of the geotech is checked out because he's just had enough of all the BS. I don't blame him. He's also on the verge of retiring and doesn't like conflicts or arguments. I want to change things so that I have a better place to work and can do my job properly. I want to help grow the department and make it a stronger department.

 

[IRstuff]

How long has this been going on? Why do you think you can change the culture if the president isn't on board? I would think the path would have been to convince the president first.

 

[MintJulep]

I've been tasked

By who?

You need to make a quantified business case to someone that can change the status quo.

I.e. follow the money.

You seem to have what you need, but you're description here is meandering, and based on turf wars, not business.

 

[Brian Malone]

DirtSmuggler said:
Basically a professional way to tell them to stop trying to do our job and ruining our department's reputation by screwing up the work they aren't qualified to do and stop cutting our budgets and inflating their own so they can spend a bunch of hours doing nothing while we try to complete our work in minimum time possible or less, and listen to our recommendations which is based on facts, finding, and data and not theirs which is based on a feeling.

Unless you have uncontrovertable proof of sandbagging and proof of malice, tread lightly in your presentation on accusing person(s)/department of lack of qualification or doing nothing. Emphasize only why your department can do the best job and maximize return on investment/resources with a reshuffling of priorities/authority and budget. If you are No. 2 and No. 1 is stepping away from ruffling feathers, take heed and make sure you do not poison the well with your zeal or intentions. You will still need support from the other departments if the company is to be successful so this definitely a place keep a long-game view and not let any personal frustrations color the wording and focus of the presentation.